Palmer vs. Rivers: Who Has Had a Bigger Fall From Grace?

Carson Palmer has been a huge disappointment for the Oakland Raiders since he was signed a few weeks ago. Philip Rivers has underperformed and tossed too many picks for the San Diego Chargers.

Prior to this season, both QBs were considered to be well above average at the position.

Both the Chargers and the Raiders started the season well, but have entered a rough patch and are now in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC West with the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Of these starting quarterbacks, Carson Palmer has definitely had the bigger fall from grace. He has been demoted to a merely average quarterback in many experts' minds. Let's explore the reasons why.

Palmer has been getting worse since 2007. After a so-so rookie campaign, Palmer lit up the league in 2005 and 2006. Starting in 2007, however, Palmer has been steadily regressing. His interceptions are up, his completion percentage has trended down and his quarterback rating has plummeted. 

It's perhaps not surprising that the Bengals are now tied for the best record in the AFC with a new quarterback under center. The Bengals' woes the past few years may have been attributable to Palmer.

Rivers, while the same age as Palmer, doesn't have an awful injury on his resume. Palmer's knee injury on the first play of the Bengals' playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 2005 season was truly horrific. Injuries like that have a tendency to shorter careers.

Rivers' clean bill of health bodes well for his ability to pull out of his current funk. Rivers has been much better than Palmer over the past few years. His passer rating has been over 100 each of the past three years. Palmer only had a rating over 100 once; and that was way back in 2005.

Another key reason why Palmer's fall from grace is more pronounced is the lack of talent surrounding Palmer. Rivers has a better supporting cast than Palmer does.

From Vincent Jackson to Antonio Gates, Rivers has an amazing array of weapons on offense. Palmer doesn't have those types of dynamic players with the Raiders. Darren McFadden is the only true star on offense for the Raiders, and without reliable and game-breaking offensive players in the passing game, Palmer won't be able to break out of his downward spiral.